Teacher Lesson Plan · CEFR B1 · Unit 2

Everyday Life

A complete two-session B1 lesson on daily routines and how life changes, built around used to — so students can compare their past and present habits, with audio scripts, games, and answer keys.

Level: B1 (Intermediate) Duration: 90 min (2 × 45) Grammar: used to · present simple Skills: Speaking · Reading · Listening · Writing

Lesson Objectives

Can-Do Statements

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Describe a daily routine in detail using collocations (catch the bus, run errands, do the laundry).
Talk about past habits that are now different with used to + base verb.
Form questions and negatives correctly with use to (Did you use to…? I didn't use to…).
Contrast the past (used to) with the present (present simple).
Understand the key details in a text and audio about how someone's life has changed.
Write a "how my life has changed" paragraph comparing past and present.

Target Language

Vocabulary & Collocations

Vocabulary — Routine

Everyday Collocations

catch / miss the bus · commute to work
check emails · run errands · do chores
do the laundry / the dishes · make the bed
go for a jog · grab a coffee · get ready
have a lie-in · stay up late · get an early night
drop off / pick up · take a break

Useful Phrases

Comparing Past & Present

I used to…, but now I…
These days… / Nowadays…
I'm not used to… (note: different from "used to")
as soon as / while / before / after
The biggest change is…
Life is busier / quieter than it used to be.

Grammar Focus

The Engine of the Lesson

used to — how we talk about past habits and states that are different now.

1. used to — Past Habits & States

Use used to + base verb for things that were true in the past but are not true now.

I used to live in a village. (but now I live in a city) · She used to have long hair.

It works for repeated past actions (habits) and past states (situations).

2. Questions & Negatives — use to (no "d")

negative	I didn't use to like coffee. (NOT "didn't used to")
question	Did you use to walk to school?

Key spelling: after did / didn't, drop the "d" — use to, not "used to". The "d" only appears in the positive form.

3. used to vs the Present Simple

past habit (changed)	I used to drive to work.
present habit (now)	Now I take the bus.

Watch out: "I used to swim" (past habit) is different from "I'm used to swimming" (= I'm accustomed to it). This unit focuses on the first.

Before You Start

Materials Needed

Whiteboard and markers · A "then vs now" two-column chart for the board · The student workbook (digital, opens on any phone or laptop) · Audio files made from the scripts below. No printing required — the student workbook is self-grading and mobile-friendly.

Featured Reading

The Way We Used to Live

A self-grading article on how daily routines have changed. It is written to model used to and get used to in context, so it fits straight into Session 2 — or set it as homework.

Interactive Reading Page

What's inside

An article comparing everyday life then and now: commuting, chores, news and keeping in touch.
Self-grading comprehension questions with instant feedback and a score.
A "used to vs do now" sorting task on daily habits.
A vocabulary flashcard deck and a discussion box to extend the topic into speaking.

How to use it: project it for shared reading, or assign it for homework before the discussion. Students read, then tap Show My Score on the comprehension quiz and bring the result to class.

Open the Reading →

Step-by-Step Procedure

Timed Lesson Stages

Each stage lists timing, teacher instructions, and the interaction pattern.

Session 1 — Vocabulary, Grammar & Speaking (45 min)

5 min

1. Warm-Up — Then vs Now

Show a photo of life "10 years ago" vs "now" (phones, transport, etc.). Ask: "What's different?" Elicit a few "used to" ideas and write them in a two-column chart on the board.

Interaction: Teacher → whole class.

10 min

2. Vocabulary — Routine Collocations

Present everyday collocations (catch the bus, run errands, do the laundry). Drill stress and meaning. Students put five collocations in order of their own typical day.

Interaction: Teacher → class.

12 min

3. Grammar — used to

Guided discovery: write "I used to walk to school, but now I drive." Ask: is it past or present? Still true? Build "used to + base", then the question/negative with "use to" (no d), then contrast with the present simple.

Concept check: "Is it true now? Do we write 'd' after 'did'?"
Controlled drill: students convert present habits into past with "used to".

Interaction: Guided discovery → class.

13 min

4. Speaking — "Find Someone Who" Mingle

Centerpiece activity. Give each student the Find Someone Who grid (in the Mingle & Games section, also in the workbook with a shuffle button).

Students ask: "Did you use to…?" and a follow-up ("Why did you stop?").
Report back contrasting then and now: "Marek used to play football, but now he runs."

Interaction: Whole-class mingle → reporting back.

5 min

5. Wrap-Up

Volunteers share the biggest change they found in a classmate's life. Note any "didn't used to" errors for Session 2.

Session 2 — Reading, Listening & Writing (45 min)

5 min

1. Review Game — Used To Chain

Student 1: "I used to be afraid of dogs." Student 2: "She used to be afraid of dogs, and I used to…" Each student recalls the previous one and adds their own. Memory + the target form.

Interaction: Circle.

10 min

2. Reading — "How My Life Has Changed"

Students open the Student Workbook and read the text. They answer the comprehension and multiple-choice questions, which grade instantly.

First read for gist: "Is Lisa happier now?" Then read for detail.
Pairs find every "used to" and say what is different now.

Interaction: Individual → pairs.

10 min

3. Listening — Two Friends Compare

Play Audio 2 (script below). Students complete the fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice listening task in the workbook. Play twice.

Interaction: Individual → class check.

15 min

4. Writing — How My Life Has Changed

Students complete the workbook's grammar, word-order, and the new error-correction task, then write a comparison paragraph.

Model: "A few years ago, my life was very different. I used to live with my parents and I used to stay up late every night. I didn't use to cook, so I ate a lot of fast food. Now I live alone, I get up early, and I cook every day. I'm much healthier than I used to be!"

Target: at least four "used to" sentences, one negative, and a clear then/now contrast.
Students self-check against the writing checklist in the workbook.

Interaction: Individual.

5 min

5. Share, Score & Reflect

Students read their comparison to a partner, who asks two follow-up questions. Then they tap Show My Score in the workbook and show you the result on their phone.

Classroom Activities

Mingle & Game Bank

Ready-to-run speaking activities to keep all 90 minutes active and student-centered. The same mingle is built into the student workbook with a shuffle button.

"Find Someone Who…" Mingle Grid

Students mingle and ask "Did you use to…?" questions to find one classmate for each square.

…used to live in a different town"Where did you use to live?"

Name: ____________

…used to play a sport"Did you use to play a sport?"

Name: ____________

…didn't use to like a food they love now"What didn't you use to like?"

Name: ____________

…used to have a different hairstyle"How did you use to look?"

Name: ____________

…used to wake up later than now"What time did you use to get up?"

Name: ____________

…used to have a pet"Did you use to have a pet?"

Name: ____________

…used to be afraid of something"What were you afraid of?"

Name: ____________

…used to watch a lot of cartoons"What did you use to watch?"

Name: ____________

…has a busier life now than before"Is your life busier now?"

Name: ____________

More Activities

8 min · pairs

Then & Now Interview

Pairs interview each other about life five years ago vs now, using "used to" and the present simple. Each reports the most interesting change to the class. Strong contrast practice.

7 min · groups

Guess My Childhood

Each student writes three "I used to…" facts about their childhood. The group reads them and guesses if each is true or false, asking follow-up questions. Fun and personal.

8 min · whole class

How the World Has Changed

Brainstorm how everyday life has changed in 30 years (phones, shopping, work). Students make "People used to…, but now they…" sentences. Builds general fluency and ideas for writing.

6 min · pairs

Routine Swap

Students describe their daily routine to a partner, who must spot two things that are different from their own ("You catch the bus, but I cycle"). Recycles collocations and the present simple.

Listening Resources

Audio & Transcripts

Tap a transcript to open it. Add your recording in the player, and use the same file in the student workbook's Listening task.

Audio 1How My Life Has Changed (model)+

Lisa: My name is Lisa, and my life is very different now. A few years ago, I used to live in a small village. I used to wake up at nine and I didn't use to do much in the mornings. I used to drive everywhere because there were no buses. Now I live in the city. I get up at six, I catch the bus to work, and I check my emails before breakfast. I used to hate big cities, but now I love the busy life. The biggest change? I used to have a lot of free time — now I'm always busy!

How to use: Play once for gist (is she happier?), then again to list the "used to" habits and what is different now. A clear, natural pace works best at B1.

Audio 2Two Friends Compare (listening task)+

Tom: You look so fit, Sara! Did you use to exercise this much?

Sara: No! I used to be really lazy. I used to watch TV all evening.

Tom: Really? What changed?

Sara: I started running last year. Now I run every morning before work.

Tom: That's great. I used to smoke, but I stopped two years ago.

Sara: Well done! I used to drink a lot of coffee too, but now I only drink tea.

Tom: We've both changed a lot!

How to use: This is the source audio for the workbook's Listening task. It contrasts past habits (used to) with present routines. Play for gist first, then for detail.

Audio 3Pronunciation — "used to" /juːstə/ (optional)+

Listen-and-repeat drill. "used to" and "use to" sound the same: /juːstə/ — a quick, weak "to".

I used to live here. — She used to play tennis. — They used to be friends.

Did you use to walk? — I didn't use to like it.

How to use: B1 students often over-pronounce "used to" as two strong words. Model the natural blend /juːstə/. Note that the sound is identical in positive, negative, and question — only the spelling changes.

Answer Keys

Workbook Answers

These match the self-grading student workbook. The workbook grades automatically; keys are here for your reference and board correction.

Reading — Comprehension ("How My Life Has Changed")

Where did Lisa use to live? — a small village
What time did she use to wake up? — nine (9 a.m.)
How does she go to work now? — by bus (she catches the bus)

Reading — Multiple Choice

Lisa used to… — b) drive everywhere
How does Lisa feel about city life now? — a) She loves it

Listening — Fill in the Blank (Audio 2)

Sara used to be really lazy.
Sara used to watch TV all evening.
Tom used to smoke, but he stopped.

Listening — Multiple Choice (Audio 2)

When does Sara run now? — b) every morning
What does Sara drink now instead of coffee? — c) tea

Grammar — used to

I used to live in a village. (live)
We used to have a dog. (have)
She didn't use to like vegetables. (not / like)
They used to walk to school. (walk)

Word Order

I used to live in a village.
She didn't use to like coffee.

Error Correction

"I use to play tennis." → I used to play tennis.
"Did you used to live here?" → Did you use to live here?
"I used to working late." → I used to work late.

Teacher Notes

Common Student Errors

Watch for these at B1 and correct gently in the moment.

Typical Error	Correct Form	Why & How to Fix
"I use to play tennis."	"I used to play tennis."	The positive form needs the "d": used to.
"Did you used to live here?"	"Did you use to live here?"	After did, drop the "d": use to.
"I didn't used to smoke."	"I didn't use to smoke."	After didn't, drop the "d": use to.
"I used to working late."	"I used to work late."	used to + base verb, never -ing.
"I am used to wake up early." (meaning past habit)	"I used to wake up early."	Don't confuse "used to + verb" (past habit) with "be used to + -ing" (accustomed to).
"I use to go there every day now."	"I go there every day now."	"used to" is only for the past. For now, use the present simple.

Going Further

Extension & Homework

Extension (Fast Finishers)

In-Class Options

Write five sentences about how your town or school used to be different.
Interview an older relative (or imagine one) about how life used to be.
Compare a weekday routine now with your routine as a young child.

Homework

At-Home Practice

Write a detailed description of your daily routine (8 activities, 3 time expressions).
Write a "how my life has changed" paragraph using at least four "used to" sentences.
Finish any workbook tasks and bring your score to the next class.

Assessment

How to Measure Success

Speaking: accurate "used to / use to" and the past/present contrast in the mingle and games. · Reading: correct answers in the workbook tasks. · Listening: accuracy on the Audio 2 fill-in-the-blank task. · Grammar: the used-to, word-order, and error-correction exercises. · Writing: a clear then/now comparison paragraph. Students tap Show My Score so you can verify results instantly on their phones.

Ready to run the lesson?

Open the student workbook on any phone or laptop — no login, fully self-grading.

Open the Student Workbook